Improved dust-pan



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE AMELIA B. HOFFMAN, OF BOXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED DUST-PAN.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,825, dated October 16, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMELIA B. HOFFMAN, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Dust-Pan, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

Figure l is an exterior view ot' my said invention, which I style the box dust-pan.77 A is the cover of the box, which opens toward the handle D, and when shut overlaps slightly upon the apron B, which is an inclined plane extending from the front of the box on its upper edge to the level of the bottom ot the same, and is supported and held in place by the side pieces of the box prolonged to the edge ofthe apron and cuto a little above the surface of the saine, so as to leave a narrow rim on each side. C is a side of the dustpan, supporting the apron, as before mentioned. Dis the handle, which extends horizontally on a level with the bottom of the box about three inches, and then curves upward to the top of the same high enough to form a support t'or the cover when open, the object ot this form being to enable a person sweeping with a long-handled broom to move the pan without stooping by inserting the foot in the handle.

Fig. 2 is an interior view of the box dustpan, the cover and one side being omitted. E is the interior ot-the box, and B is the apron,

before described, projecting from the upper edge of the box.

All parts oi the box dust-pan except the cover and the handle maybe made of a single piece of tin, bent and soldered in the form above described.

The operation of my said invention may be described as follows When placed upon a floor or other horizontal surface it sets rml y, without requiring any support, in the exact position for use, the edge ot' the apron being always in contact with the surface to be swept. It may be moved with either the hand or foot, and used with either a dust-brush or a longhandled broom. The dust as it is brushed up over the apron drops into the box, and is thus prevented from falling out with the backward movement ot' the broom, while the open cover prevents it from passing over the top. A much greater amount may thus be taken up without emptying than by the common dustpan, and by closing the cover the dust onceV taken up is shielded from drafts of air, so that it may be removed at leisure without being scattered.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the box E, the lid A, the inclined edge or apron B, and the handle D, all as a-ud for the purpose described.

AMELIA B. HOFFMAN. [1.. s]

VitneSses:

Eras SARGENT, J AMES O. SARGENT. 

